In Rehearsal Now – The 2012 Archives

As 2012 comes to an end, I am on the beautiful Oregon coast, having just sung with a wonderful children’s choir. I look forward to posting the video one day, we did a very special piece that I will always remember.

December 2012 – “Gift of Music” with a Delightful Children’s Choir

Sarah Barten and I, along with local children are accompanied by Eric Simpson as we rehearse for our December 16th performance at the Salishan Spa and Golf Resort on the Oregon coast. The event is co-sponsored by the Siletz Bay Music Festival. In addition to our vocal performances, storytelling and renditions of holiday standards on Harp, the concert will conclude with good old fashioned sing along! For more about this event simply visit Gift of Music on Toast to the Coast. Ok, it’s back to brushing up on everything from “White Christmas” to “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!”

December 2012 – Sneak Peak at our First Gershwin Rehearsal

Susannah Mars and Charlie Creasy, first rehearsal of, “Oh Those Gershwin Boys – George & His Lovely Wife Ira” at Charlie’s studio in Palm Springs, CA. This promises to be a heart-warming show and nostalgic romp through the legendary Gershwin song-book. Creating a new show like this is always a treat for me. Sure there are long hours of rehearsal and, oh, the memorization of new arrangements and banter! When all is said and done, however, the resulting performance is always a gift! Check back for a look inside our Gershwin rehearsals as we prepare for the upcoming show. Show dates to be announced in late January or early February.

May 2012 – Comden & Green in Palm Desert, CA

This is me and the beautiful Elaine Wang Meyerhoffer as we rehearse “A Party with Betty Comden and Adolph Green” in Palo Alto, CA. We were preparing for a series of three performances in May 2012, under the Musical Direction of Charlie Creasy. Jack Moore devised and directed this show.

Any time Elaine and I have an opportunity to perform this “comic thrill-ride through the music and lyrics of Comden & Green” we just smile… It’s that much fun!

More to Come in the Archives

Thank you for exploring the Rehearsal Archives. Do check back, we are bound to add MORE to the archives as time allows! There are so many wonderful photos show and stories to tell.

- Stacey Brown - Attendee at "An Affair to Remember" - Fundraiser Benefit for LCCC - Lincoln City, ORSure enjoyed your performance last night! You held the audience in the palm of your hand. It’s great how you always educate your audience. I read more about Harry Warren (Salvatore Antonio Guaragna) cool he was a pro drummer at 14! And composer of over 800 songs as you said. It was a terrific evening…. (we) enjoyed it very much . Thanks again for making “Culture of Course” shine with culture. Great job!

SE Bayles - San Jose, CAAfter SO many years, I finally had the opportunity to see you perform live. And what a fun show it was! Rocky, when you spoke of the memory work and harmonies involved in the Sinatra show I had no idea. Wow! You weren’t kidding! It was such a treat, an ear-tickling joy to hear the complexity of the arrangements and the absolutely stunning 4-part voicing. Every note hit with precision. So much so that several times during the performance I caught myself grinning from ear to ear in sheer delight a…

SE Bayles - San Jose, CA

Elaine Wang Meyerhoffer - Independent Music ProfessionalSuper! LOVE the narrative arc. Excellently crafted. Fabulous trio and vocal quartet – you guys are nailing those complex harmonies and it is a pleasure to the ear! I especially like how the chemistry between the four of you is developing through the show. You’re in great voice and those dance moves work well!!

Elaine Wang Meyerhoffer - Independent Music Professional

Rebecca Schumacher - Sotheby’s International RealtyWe are still smiling about the truly wonderful, talented show yesterday. Rocky, you are our rock star!! We enjoyed every moment of it – your solo talent, the arrangements, the harmonies.

Rebecca Schumacher - Sotheby’s International Realty

Nelson B. Schiller, MD - Cardiologist, UCSFYour singing was sensational. We loved the swinging arrangements and the way you crafted the medleys. Your acting was terrific. I love your Cole Porter CD. Have played it dozens of times crossing the Golden Gate bridge from home to the UCSF Mission Bay campus!

Nelson B. Schiller, MD - Cardiologist, UCSF

Mary Bettini - Director/Choreographer, New YorkThere is nothing more fun than a revue of well known music when it hits the mark! Rocky… a pro with such great energy who needs no roadmap around this material, knows his way around a song and can still “dish the dirt” with the rest of the company. Thank you for such a delightful, memorable evening – ol’ blue eyes would tip his fedora to you for this awesome salute to his songbook!

Mary Bettini - Director/Choreographer, New York

Tom Blank - Professor of Theatre and Film - Ohlone College, Fullerton CollegeThe show was just terrific, and you were constantly a highlight. Great voice, presence, and styling. And boy can you find your light!!!! Hard to isolate stand-out moments as the whole piece sizzled. Your “I’ll Be Seeing You” brought new depth to a familiar standard. I also enjoyed your casual but infectious interaction with the other singers – bringing such a variety of experiences to the material.

Tom Blank - Professor of Theatre and Film - Ohlone College, Fullerton College

Tom Blank - Former Theatre Critic Anaheim Bulletin“One for My Baby”, was absolutely A+ ~ Your intimate story-telling and using your pianist as the bartender was inspired. It turned a routine standard into a contemporary reflection on loss.

Tom Blank - Former Theatre Critic Anaheim Bulletin

Christine & JeffYesterday’s performance was simply stunning, enjoyable, heart-warming and lovely. Jeff and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves… Charlie Creasy’s arrangements are brilliant. The Irving Berlin Songbook contains some real memorable, beautiful pieces. Thanks for stirring our hearts with the group sing-along of God Bless America. I do hope you all get to perform this again. I know this was quite the undertaking for you along with production. My personal thank-you and big hugs for a beautiful, memorabl…

Christine & Jeff

Chuck Feist - Executive Director, Siletz Bay Music FestivalRocky, THANK YOU. What a show! One donor while handing me a check said, “My wife and I would spend $400.00 in New York for a show like this, please keep bringing us this quality entertainment and we will continue supporting Siletz Bay Music Festival.” The details, the precision, the vocals, the floor show, the entertainers. WOW. THANK YOU.

Chuck Feist - Executive Director, Siletz Bay Music Festival

Recent Blog Posts

“Musically everything just clicked!“ It isn’t often I feel like a home run with a performance. There is always something missed, a lyric, a patter glitch etc. These are things the audience would never see, but as […]

Salvatore Antonio Guaragna, who would become known as Harry Warren, was born to Italian immigrant parents on Christmas Eve 1893. As the eleventh of twelve children he distinguished himself as a musician at an early age. […]

Memories, and Magic of Harry Warren – With less than one week before “An Affair to Remember” debuts at the 5th Annual Benefit Gala for the Lincoln City Cultural Center, Ken French and I took part of the […]

Raves & Reviews

Arnold CapitanelliThis CD is a masterpiece… and will keep your ears glued to the speakers, your fingers and toes tapping to the beat and your heart craving more and more. This is entertainment personified with powerhouse arrangements, extremely well produced but above all, vocals that give you a lift to the heights of pleasure and satisfaction.

Arnold Capitanelli

Ed Dixon - Manager, WW SymphonyRocky’s evening of Cole Porter hit songs was polished, classy and heartfelt. His singing brought back an era of musical delights when popular songs were truly works of art. What a fun concert it was!!

Ed Dixon - Manager, WW Symphony

Rachel KayhanIt’s “easy to love” this CD! Blumhagen renders these classic tunes with tenderness and contemporary sass. Listen to it in the car: you’ll feel the luscious arrangements wrap around you like a mink stole, and go to straight to your head like a martini without the alcohol!

Rachel Kayhan

Brett PaschalYour CD is awesome! I listened to it on the way to LC yesterday. There were two tracks left after I arrived, so I had to sit in the car just to hear the last two. Great job! I hope you submit this CD for Grammy considerations!

Brett Paschal

Grant TaylorYou best submit this for a Grammy because you will win & I will vote for you! There are no words to describe the level of talent you show on this album. Everything from your performance to the band, the arrangement, the musicians, the engineer – All are SUPERB! It does not get better than this, ever! BRAVO!

Grant Taylor

Christine & JeffYesterday’s performance was simply stunning, enjoyable, heart-warming and lovely. Jeff and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves… Charlie Creasy’s arrangements are brilliant. The Irving Berlin Songbook contains some real memorable, beautiful pieces. Thanks for stirring our hearts with the group sing-along of God Bless America. I do hope you all get to perform this again. I know this was quite the undertaking for you along with production. My personal thank-you and big hugs for a beautiful, memorabl…

Christine & Jeff

Mary Bettini - Director/Choreographer, New YorkThere is nothing more fun than a revue of well known music when it hits the mark! Rocky… a pro with such great energy who needs no roadmap around this material, knows his way around a song and can still “dish the dirt” with the rest of the company. Thank you for such a delightful, memorable evening – ol’ blue eyes would tip his fedora to you for this awesome salute to his songbook!

Mary Bettini - Director/Choreographer, New York

SE Bayles - San Jose, CAAfter SO many years, I finally had the opportunity to see you perform live. And what a fun show it was! Rocky, when you spoke of the memory work and harmonies involved in the Sinatra show I had no idea. Wow! You weren’t kidding! It was such a treat, an ear-tickling joy to hear the complexity of the arrangements and the absolutely stunning 4-part voicing. Every note hit with precision. So much so that several times during the performance I caught myself grinning from ear to ear in sheer delight a…

SE Bayles - San Jose, CA

ColleenIt was so wonderful to hear your beautiful voice and to watch you perform – I was mesmerized by how present you were, and how you sang from the depths of your soul.

Colleen

Chuck Feist - Executive Director, Siletz Bay Music FestivalRocky, THANK YOU. What a show! One donor while handing me a check said, “My wife and I would spend $400.00 in New York for a show like this, please keep bringing us this quality entertainment and we will continue supporting Siletz Bay Music Festival.” The details, the precision, the vocals, the floor show, the entertainers. WOW. THANK YOU.

Chuck Feist - Executive Director, Siletz Bay Music Festival

BUY CD

Rocky Blumhagen

Thank you for visiting my new website!
I am appreciative of all the talented people who have made may career and this website possible. Please continue to visit for new shows, rehearsal updates and performance dates. Feel free to call or email via the Contact Page. I look forward to hearing from you ~ Rocky

A Special Thank You to the wonderful photographers & videographers who have captured these performances. Credits & links appear on most pages.